The Tizard Centre

The Research Excellence Framework also assesses the impact that the research has outside academia. The case studies below are a selection of the research submitted by the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research.

In 2014, the University
was awarded the Queen’s
Anniversary Prize for the
work of the Tizard Centre
and its contribution to
improving the lives of
people with intellectual
and developmental
disabilities (IDD).

Managing challenging behaviour

Professor Peter McGill,
Professor Glynis Murphy

Even if most people with intellectual and developmental
disabilities (IDD) could be resettled into the community,
the established view used to be that those exhibiting
challenging or criminal behaviour would have to remain
in hospital or prison. However, studies by a Kent team
led by Peter McGill and Glynis Murphy contradicted this
widely-held belief.

Their research demonstrated that managing
challenging behaviour among those with IDD is
possible through a combination of resettlement, Positive
Behaviour Support, cognitive behavioural treatment
and appropriate intervention. These findings have
influenced policies and practices, with the researchers
serving on Government advisory committees, writing
policy documents and delivering training to service
providers. The researchers were also involved in the
creation of a new UK-based charity, the Challenging
Behaviour Foundation.

Living in community settings

Professor Jim Mansell,
Dr Julie Beadle-Brown

Pioneering research at Kent by the late Jim Mansell
and Julie Beadle-Brown has shown that small-scale,
dispersed community settings provide the best quality
of life for people with intellectual and developmental
disabilities (IDD). Evidence demonstrated that this
kind of setting is able to improve social networks and
friendships, aid adaptive behaviour, improve family
satisfaction and enhance choice and autonomy. These
benefits are further enhanced when staff employ a style
of interaction known as Person-centred Active Support.

The findings of the research have transformed the
political and public debate around reducing the reliance
on institutional environments for people with IDD. The
work has also informed the management of services
and improved the lives of people with IDD by changing
the practices and attitudes of staff. These positive
effects have reached far beyond the UK, extending to
Ireland, Central and Eastern Europe, Australia and
elsewhere.